UC Indigenous students prepared for success at Indigenous games

Graham Robinson

19 August 2008: It may not be the Beijing Olympic Games, but eight University of Canberra Ngunnawal Centre students are looking forward to competing at the National Indigenous Tertiary Education Student Games in Perth next month.

The games are held each year and University of Canberra students have competed on each of the 13 occasions that the games have been held.

The eight students are, Tarran Backhus, Philip Walford, Shane Kim, Kiyah Missen, Arika Errington, Cameron Jones, Errin Fisher and Krystal Hurst.

A lot of B-BQ’s and trivia nights have gone into raising the money according to Tarren Backhus. “We really didn’t think we would be able to raise the money, at one point everyone was very dispirited,” she said. 

The students had to raise in excess of $10,000 to pay for the trip, however with generous donations from the Canberra Labour Club and Mawson Club and a commitment by the University of Canberra the students achieved their goal and are now ready to pack their bags for the games.

University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stephen Parker congratulated the students on their commitment to attend the games.

“I am pleased that the University’s Ngunnawal Centre is sending such a strong contingent to these games. We congratulate the students on raising part of the funds and we are pleased to make our own financial contribution,” said Professor Parker.

Arika Errington said, “Everyone is really excited now we know are going. This will be a great opportunity to meet other Indigenous students, and we are all excited and looking forward to the competition.”

University of Canberra Ngunnawal Centre students, ready for the National Indigenous Tertiary Education Student Games.

University of Canberra hosted the games in 2002 and the students hope, if they do well, to nominate the University of Canberra to host the games again in 2009. 

The students’ will compete in basketball, touch, netball and volleyball along with a traditional Indigenous event.

The students leave on 16 September and although they may not return with as many gold medals as Michael Phelps achieved at the Beijing Olympic Games, they are guaranteed to have fun.